Revelation, circa 8
March 1831–A [D&C 46]

Defferences of administeration as it will be
pleasing unto the same Lord according as the Lord will suiting his mercies
according to the conditions of the children of men And again it is given by the
Holy Ghost to some to know the diversities of opperations whether it be of
God or not so that the manifestations of the spirit may be given to evry man to
prophet profit withall And again Verily I say
unto you to some it is given by the spirit of God the word of wisdom to another
it is given the word of Knowledge that all may be taught to be wise & to
have knowledge & again to some it is given to have faith to be healed &
to others it is given to have faith to heal And again to some it is given
the working of miracles & to others it is given to prophecy & to
others the decerning of spirits & again it is given to some to speak with
tongues & to another it is given the interpretation of tongues10

An ecclesiastical and priesthood office. JS appointed Edward Partridge as the first bishop in February 1831. Following this appointment, Partridge functioned as the local leader of the church in Missouri. Later revelations described a bishop’s duties as receiving...

The Book of Mormon related that when Christ set up his church in the Americas, “they which were baptized in the name of Jesus, were called the church of Christ.” The first name used to denote the church JS organized on 6 April 1830 was “the Church of Christ...

The conferral of power and authority; to appoint, decree, or set apart. Church members, primarily adults, were ordained to ecclesiastical offices and other responsibilities by the laying on of hands by those with the proper authority. Ordinations to priesthood...

A male leader in the church generally; an ecclesiastical and priesthood office or one holding that office; a proselytizing missionary. The Book of Mormon explained that elders ordained priests and teachers and administered “the flesh and blood of Christ unto...

unto the
Church are to have it given unto them to
decern all those gifts lest there shall be any among you prophecying & yet
not be of God13

See 1 John 4:1.

& it shall
come to pass that he that asketh in spirit shall receive in spirit that unto
some it may be given to have all those gifts that there may be a head in order
that evry member may be profited thereby he
that asketh in spirit asketh according to the will of God wherefore it is
done even as he asketh & again I say unto you all things must be done in the
name of Christ whatsoever you do in the spirit & ye must give thanks
unto God in the spirit for whatsoever blessing ye are blessed with & ye
must practice virtue & holyness before me continually even so amen [p. 78]

Defferences of administeration as it will be
pleasing unto the same Lord according as the Lord will suiting his mercies
according to the conditions of the children of men And again it is given by the
Holy Ghost to some to know the diversities of opperations whether it be of
God or not so that the manifestations of the spirit may be given to evry man to
prophet [profit] withall And again Verily I say
unto you to some it is given by the spirit of God the word of wisdom to another
it is given the word of Knowledge that all may be taught to be wise & to
have knowledge & again to some it is given to have faith to be healed &
to others it is given to have faith to heal And again to some it is given
the working of miracles & to others it is given to prophecy & to
others the decerning of spirits & again it is given to some to speak with
tongues & to another it is given the interpretation of tongues10

An ecclesiastical and priesthood office. JS appointed Edward Partridge as the first bishop in February 1831. Following this appointment, Partridge functioned as the local leader of the church in Missouri. Later revelations described a bishop’s duties as receiving...

The Book of Mormon related that when Christ set up his church in the Americas, “they which were baptized in the name of Jesus, were called the church of Christ.” The first name used to denote the church JS organized on 6 April 1830 was “the Church of Christ...

The conferral of power and authority; to appoint, decree, or set apart. Church members, primarily adults, were ordained to ecclesiastical offices and other responsibilities by the laying on of hands by those with the proper authority. Ordinations to priesthood...

A male leader in the church generally; an ecclesiastical and priesthood office or one holding that office; a proselytizing missionary. The Book of Mormon explained that elders ordained priests and teachers and administered “the flesh and blood of Christ unto...

unto the
Church are to have it given unto [them] to
decern all those gifts lest there shall be any among you prophecying & yet
not be of God13

See 1 John 4:1.

& it shall
come to pass that he that asketh in spirit shall receive in spirit that unto
some it may be given to have all those gifts that there may be a head in order
that evry member may be propheted profited thereby he
that asketh in spirit asketh according to the will of God wherefore it is
done even as he asketh & again I say unto you all things must be done in the
name of Christ whatsoever you do in the spirit & ye must give thanks
unto God in the spirit for whatsoever blessing ye are blessed with & ye
must practice virtue & holyness before me continually even so amen [p. 78]

27 Aug. 1802–11 July 1878. Farmer, stock raiser, newspaper editor. Born in Pennsylvania. Son of Peter Whitmer Sr. and Mary Musselman. Member of German Reformed Church, Fayette, Seneca Co., New York. Baptized by Oliver Cowdery, June 1829, most likely in Seneca...

After baptism, new converts were confirmed members of the church “by the laying on of the hands, & the giving of the Holy Ghost.” According to JS’s history, the first confirmations were administered at the organization of the church on 6 April 1830. By March...

Primarily referred to the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper, or Communion, as opposed to other religious sacraments. The “Articles and Covenants” of the church directed “that the church meet together often to partake of bread and wine in remembrance of the Lord...

The Book of Mormon related that when Christ set up his church in the Americas, “they which were baptized in the name of Jesus, were called the church of Christ.” The first name used to denote the church JS organized on 6 April 1830 was “the Church of Christ...

To produce a text from one written in another language; in JS’s usage, most often through divine means. JS considered the ability to translate to be a gift of the spirit, like the gift of interpreting tongues. He recounted that he translated “reformed Egyptian...

A record engraved on gold plates, which JS translated and published as the Book of Mormon. The text explained that the plates were an abridgement of other ancient records and were written by an American prophet named Mormon and his son Moroni. The plates ...

which stated, “And behold, ye shall meet together oft, and ye shall not forbid any
man from coming unto you when ye shall meet together, but suffer them that they may
come unto you, and forbid them not.”1

3 Oct. 1806–3 Mar. 1850. Clerk, teacher, justice of the peace, lawyer, newspaper editor. Born at Wells, Rutland Co., Vermont. Son of William Cowdery and Rebecca Fuller. Raised Congregationalist. Moved to western New York and clerked at a store, ca. 1825–1828...

drew upon these instructions in his “Articles of the Church of
Christ,” which directed, “And the church shall meet together oft for prayer
& suplication casting out none from your places of worship but rather invite
them to come.”2

A meeting where ecclesiastical officers and other church members could conduct church business. The “Articles and Covenants” of the church directed the elders to hold conferences to perform “Church business.” The first of these conferences was held on 9 June...

of
the church, stated the following concerning “church members after they are received
by baptism

An ordinance in which an individual is immersed in water for the remission of sins. The Book of Mormon explained that those with necessary authority were to baptize individuals who had repented of their sins. Baptized individuals also received the gift of...

A male leader in the church generally; an ecclesiastical and priesthood office or one holding that office; a proselytizing missionary. The Book of Mormon explained that elders ordained priests and teachers and administered “the flesh and blood of Christ unto...

An ecclesiastical and priesthood office. In the Book of Mormon, priests were described as those who baptized, administered “the flesh and blood of Christ unto the church,” and taught “the things pertaining to the kingdom of God.” A June 1829 revelation directed...

are to have a
sufficient time to expound all things concerning this church of Christ to their
understanding previous to their partaking of the sacrament, and being confirmed by
the laying on of the hands of the elders, so that all things shall be done in
order.”3

27 Aug. 1802–11 July 1878. Farmer, stock raiser, newspaper editor. Born in Pennsylvania. Son of Peter Whitmer Sr. and Mary Musselman. Member of German Reformed Church, Fayette, Seneca Co., New York. Baptized by Oliver Cowdery, June 1829, most likely in Seneca...

introduced this revelation in his history he explained: “In the
beginning of the church, while yet in her infancy, the disciples

Generally, a follower of Jesus Christ, and in certain cases, one selected to lead the ministry. In the New Testament, Christ ordained twelve of his disciples as apostles. The Book of Mormon recounted that during his ministry to the Nephites, Christ similarly...

used to
exclude unbelievers, which caused some to marvel, and converse about this matter
because of the things that were written in the Book of Mormon.
Therefore the Lord deigned to speak on this subject, that his people might come to
understanding.”4

French explored area, 1669. British took possession following French and Indian War, 1763. Ceded to U.S., 1783. First permanent white settlement established, 1788. Northeastern portion maintained as part of Connecticut, 1786, and called Connecticut Western...

, JS reported that on 4 March, less
than a week before dictating this revelation, he aided a woman who “had an awful
strugle with satan

A fallen angel, or son of God, known by many names, including Lucifer, the devil, the father of lies, the prince of darkness, perdition, and the adversary. In the Bible, the Book of Mormon, and JS’s Bible revisions, Satan was described as a tempter of men...

but being armed with the power of God he was cast out and the woman is Clothed in
hir right mind.” In the same letter, JS noted that since his arrival in Ohio, “I
hav[e] been ingageed in regulating the Churches
here as the deciples are numerous and the devil had made many attempts to over throw
them it has been a Serious job but the Lord is with us and we have overcome and have
all things regular.”7

Located ten miles south of Lake Erie. Settled by 1811. Organized by 1818. Population in 1830 about 55 Latter-day Saints and 1,000 others; in 1838 about 2,000 Saints and 1,200 others; in 1839 about 100 Saints and 1,500 others. Mormon missionaries visited township...

27 Aug. 1802–11 July 1878. Farmer, stock raiser, newspaper editor. Born in Pennsylvania. Son of Peter Whitmer Sr. and Mary Musselman. Member of German Reformed Church, Fayette, Seneca Co., New York. Baptized by Oliver Cowdery, June 1829, most likely in Seneca...